General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with the burning of stores and vehicles. [View all]npk
(3,660 posts)I am not saying the manner in which we protest should not change. I think that protests have to evolve with the times. I would like to see more young people attending community meetings and speaking at weekly city hall meetings. The problem is we get young and diverse group of protesters to come out to the streets when something like this happens. They are engaged for a few days maybe a few weeks and then things get back to normal and the memory of George Floyd and the countless others that have been murdered by the Cops fades.
To effect long lasting change, you need long lasting protests. That was the difference with the 1960's and into the 70's, Those protests became movements and they lasted for decades. They never stopped and the persistence of those actions which established and then later defined those movements is what led to the long lasting change. We see people getting angry and calling for change only in spurts and only when there is a large enough example of injustice to compel people to act. But again the movement cannot sustain itself because it lacks a centralized message and a true leader at the moment.
That is what needs to change.